Turntable cutting machines



Feb. 8, 1966 w. DEICHMANN TURNTABLE CUTTING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed Nov. 26, 1958 Feb. 8, 1966 w. DEXCH'MANN 392332488TURNTABLE CUTTING MACHINES Original Filed Nov. 26, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 2Q da mg A- TORNEY Feb. 8, 1966 W. DEacHMANN TURNTABLE CUTTING MACHINES 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Nov. 26, 1958 JV. DEICHMANN TURNTABLECUTTING MACHINES Feh 8, 1966 6 SheetsSheet 4:

Driginal Filed Nov. 26, 1958 Feb. 196% w. DEICHMANN TURNTABLE CUTTINGMACHINES 6 Sheets-meet 5 Original Filed Nov. 26, 1958 United StatesPatent "ice 3,233,483 CUTTING MACHINES Walter ileichmann, deceased, lateof Nassau N.Y., by Eiizabeth C. Deichmann, administratrix,

Miueola, NRC, assignor to Cutting Room Appliances Corp, New York, N.Y.,a corporation of New York Original application Nov. 26, 1958, Ser. No.776,645", new

Patent No. 3,094,319, dated Hume 13, 12%3. Divided and this applicationMay 13, 1953, Ser. No. 288,164

15 Claims. (Cl. 83-174) This invention relates generally to cuttingmechanism for spreading machines of the turntable type.

In application, Serial No. 776,645, filed November 26, 1958, now PatentNo. 3,094,319, of which this application is a division, entitledSpreading Machines of the Turntable Type Having Cutting Apparatus, thereis disclosed a turntable spreading machine with a swiveling carrier forthe sheet material and the cutting mechanism here to be set forth andclaimed. The invention relates to an improved spreading machine of thisgeneral character having such turntable, in which novel features andimprovements are provided including cutting apparatus for severing eachlayer subsequent to the spreading thereof.

An object of the invention is the provision, in a spreading machine, ofa reciprocable cutter adapted for rotation concomitant with thereciprocation thereof, there being improved simple and positiveoperating mechanism provided to impart concomitant reciprocation andhigh speed rotation of the sheet material or cloth cutting disc.

A single stroke of travel of the cutter assembly in either directionalong the line of the cutter provides a fabric cutting operation.Another object of the invention is the provision of improved means forreversing the path of travel of the cutter assembly at the terminus ofeach cutting stroke.

A feature of such cutter assembly is the provision of selective meansfor dressing of buffering the cloth cutting disc during the operationthereof.

One of the major problems associated with the provision of automaticcutting apparatus in a spreading machine relates to the mounting orsuspension of the cutter assembly for reciprocation. As the loadconstituted by the cutter assembly travels along its support, there isintroduced the problem of fiexure of the support as such assemblytravels therealong, and attendant improper results in the cuttingaction. Another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedsuspension arrangement for the cutter assembly in which the aforenotedproblem is obviated and in which the support is rigidified againstdistortion consistent with lightness of weight, simplicity ofconstruction and. ease of fabrication.

Other objects of the invention will be set forth hereinafter, or will beapparent from the description and the drawings, in which embodiments areillustrated to exemplify the invention.

The invention, however, is not intended to be restricted to anyparticular construction, or any particular arrangement of parts, or anyparticular application of any such construction or arrangement of parts,or any specific method of operation or use, or any of the variousdetails thereof, even where specifically shown and described herein, asthe same may be modified in various particulars, or may be applied inmany varied relations, without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe claimed invention, of which the exemplifying embodiments, hereinshown and described, are intended only to be illustrative, and only forthe purpose of complying with the requirements of the Statutes fordisclosure of operative embodiments,

but not to show all the various forms of modifications in which theinvention might be embodied.

Federated Feb. 8, 1956 In the drawings, in which the same referencecharacters refer to the same parts throughout and in which is disclosedsuch practical construction:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing a spreading machine accordingto the invention mounted upon a table, with the swingable frameconstituting a drive roll wraparound provision shown in an openthreading position, and with a cutter assembly in position to cooperatewith the fabric being fed, said view looking from the operating side ofthe machine;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 22of FIG. 1 with part broken away to reveal structural details;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2, showing adetail of the cutter box counter balance;

FiG. 4 is a perspective view showing the mechanism for elevating thecutter box at one side thereof, said view being taken on the line 4-4 ofFIG. 2;

' FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the cutter box, said view being taken onthe line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lefthand end region ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the cutter box in theregion of the door latch, taken on the line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view of thecutter box, the latter being shown in plan;

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the cutter assembly looking in thedirection of arrow 9 of FIGS. 11 and 12;

FIG. 1C- is a plan view of the cutter assembly, taken on the line 1t31t9of FIGS. 11 land 12;

FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view through the cutter box and cutterassembly, taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the cutter assembly, taken on theline 12-12 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the bufferingwheels in association with the cutting disc with said wheels being innon-operating position, said view being taken on the line 1313 of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 showing the buffering wheels inoperative association with the cutting disc;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the cutterassembly, taken on the line 15-15 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line 1616 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken on the line 17-17 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 18 is a view companion to FIG. 4 showing a fragmentary sideelevational view of the cutter box elevating mechanism at the sideopposite to that shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 19 is a wiring diagram of the cutter assembly motor and controlcircuit.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2thereof, there is shown a spreading machine 1d mounted to move along atable 12 to spread layers of sheet material 14, such as fabric from aroll 16 of such material. The machine it) comprises a pair of laterallyspaced end frames 18 and 20 which are rigidly interconected in thisspaced relation by the tubular cross members 22 to define the carriageof the machine. Riding on the upper pair of members 22 is a carrier 24upon which is pivoted a spreader 26, the latter having mounted thereonthe cloth carrying means 28 for supporting roll 16. The carrier 24 andstructure superposed thereon and carried thereby is similar to thecorresponding structure of the aforereferred to application, Serial No.776,645, and reference is made to said application for a detaileddescription of such structure.

in order to properly guide machine it? for movement longitudinally ofthe table, tracks 39 are secured to the opposite edges 32 of the table.Upon these tracks roll wheels 34 suitably mounted for rotation withrespect to the frames 15 and 2+9, each wheel being provided with agroove 36 which interfits with the flange 38 of the track to therebyguide the machine in its travel over the table. If desired, the machinemay be positively guided in this manner frame only, with the other sidebeing provide'd with treaded wheels which roll directly upon the topface of the table. In order to prevent the machine from tipping underload or stress during its operation, each frame is provided with aretaining bracket 44 (FIG. I) secured thereto by bolts 42, the bracketcarrying. a loner 44 which engages the underside of the track to therebyprevent vertical displacement of the machine with respect to the table.

In order to properly guide and feed the fabric to the table, there isprovided a swingable frame comprising an opposite pair of Lshaped endframes 52 and 54 (F168. 1-, 2, and 18) which mount a tubular tie rod 55and roll! 58. Roll 58 has adjustably mounted thereon a pair of edgeguides for guiding the opposite edges of the traveling fabric, all ofwhich is more fully described in said application, Serial No. 776,645.The frame 50 is mounted for swingable movement about a pivot axis, andis: pivotally movable between the open or fabric threading positionshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the closed operat-- ing or feeding positionin which is achieved the desired wrap-around of the fabric with respectto the feed roll 78 which is positively driven on movement of themachine along the table. Mounted on the tie rod 56 a side edge guide 3%for the fabric, said guide having a mounting part 82 which encircles thetie rod and which is releasably clamped thereto by bolt 84.

The frame 50 is releasably latched in the closed operating position bythe complementary pair of releasably interengageable latch parts.

On the movement of the machine along the table the feed roll 78 ispositively driven, the direction of rotation of the feed roll being thesame independent of the direction of movement of the machine along thetable. One wheel 34 (FIG. 1) has a sprocket l2!) keyed thereto forrotation therewith, said sprocket driving chain 124. Laterally spacedfrom frame 13 is a mounting plate 126 which is rigidly interconnectedwith said frame by shafts 128, 139, and 132, a rotatable shaft 134extending between said frame and the mounting plate (FIGS. 1 and 2).Shaft 134-, by means of overrunning clutches, sprockets and chains,efiects constant rotation of roll 73 in one direction as the machinemoves back and forth over the table. That structure has been describedmore fully in said application, Serial No. 776,645.

Means are provided for disengaging the drive between shaft 134 and roll73 when it is desired to thread the fabric past feed roll 78. For thispurpose, a drive pin 208, which is part of the drive mechanism,intengages in any one of the teeth 210 of the sprocket 2% to providedriving engagement between shaft 132 and the feed roll, said sprocketbeing shiftable to disengage pin 268 from the sprocket and release thefeed roll for free wheeling. The shifting of the sprocket with respectto the feed roll is controlled by the C-shaped yoke 212 havingdiametrically opposed pins 214 which ride freely in peripheral groove216 of sprocket 206. Secured to yoke 21?. at 217 and extending laterallyfrom said yoke is a control shaf 218, which extends to the outer side ofplate 166 through socket 220 thereof, said shaft having a knurled knob222 suitably afiixed to the outer end thereof. In the solid lineposition of said knob, as shown in FIG. 2, the feed roll will be indriving engagement with shaft 182 and on manipulating said knob to thebroken line out position the yoke 212 will be removed concomitantly toshift sprocket 206 to disengage the same from pin 20S and t ere ydisconnect the f ed roll from driving engagement with shaft 132. Thefeed roll will normally be in driving engagement with shaft 132 and willthus be positively driven on the movement of the machine along thetable, except during the threading operation when the feed roll will bedisengaged from said shaft.

Suitably bolted or otherwise secured to frames is and 2-9 are a pair ofvertically disposed and transversely aligned U-shaped channel members258, 258' which de-- fine tracks for the vertical movement of the clothcutting; device generally designated by the numeral 269.

cutter assembly 264 for reciprocation in a horizontal plane andtransversely of the table.

panion channel members 253, 258. The rollers 27% are mounted forrotation on companion stub shafts 272.

The manner of raising and lowering the cutter box will now be described.Journalled for rotation in sockets 2-74 provided in the end frames is ashaft 276 having a sprocket 273 keyed thereto as indicated at 23% (seeFIG. 4), there being a chain 282 trained thereover with the end of thechain anchored to post 258 at anchor points 284 and 221 6. The chain 282at the bottom is trained over sprocket 288, the dual sprocket beingmounted for rotation on stub shaft 29%) carried by the rib part 292 offrame 1%. Trained over sprockets 288' and 294 is a chain 296, thesprocket 294 being fixed to shaft 298 which is rotatably carried inbracket 3M) mounted to the frame l8. A hand wheel 3tl2 is fixed to theouter end of shaft 293 to facilitate the rotation of said shaft andachieve the desired vertical adjustment of the cutter box. A ratchetwheel 3G4 is suitably secured to shaft 29? for coaction with the pawl306 pivoted on bracket 3% as indicated at 3% (FlG. l). The hand wheel302 is rotated in the direction. of the arrows shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 toraise the cutter box; on such raising the pawl will ratchet over theratchet wheel and clutch the latter in position at the desired ad--justed level of the cutter box. T he pawl may be facilely' released fromthe ratchet wheel to permit the cutter box 'to be lowered. From theabove it will be apparent thatthe rotation of the hand wheel 302 will beeifective cor-- respondingly to drive chains 296 and 282 and thereby:adjust the level of the cutter box interposed as a link of chain 282.The weight of the cutter box and devices carried thereby iscounterbalanced by spring 316 fitted over shaft 276 (FIGS. 3 and 4), oneend of said spring being anchored to said shaft as indicated at 312 withthe opposite looped end 314 of said spring engaged over member 22. Onlowering and raising the cutter box the counterbalance spring winds andunwinds, respectively, whereby the cutter box may be effortlessly raisedand lowered.

At the opposite side of the cutter box (FIG. 18), takeup mechanism 316is provided comprising a chain 318 anchored at one end at point 320 ofits companion bracket 266 with the opposite end of the chain beinganchored to the frame 29 at anchor point 322. The chain 318 is. trainedover sprocket 324 keyed to shaft 2'76, idler sprocket 326 carried bystub shaft 328 mounted in frame 20, andv sprocket 330 carried by theforked fitting 332 connected to the frame through the intermediation ofspring 334. lroper tension is thus applied to chain 318 by the springactuated sprocket 336. In this instant embodiment the mounting brackets266 are of cast metallic construction and include mounting flange parts336 and 338 (FIG. 4) which interiit with the walls 340 and 342,respectively, of the cutter box.

Mounted on one side of the flange part 336 of each bracket 266 byfasteners 343 (FIGS. 1 and 6) is a guide plate 344 having a longitudinalcutout 346 to receive an adjacent leg 3 48. of a companion channelmember 253 with slight clearance, the plates 344 thereby riding alongThe: cutting device 269 comprises a horizontally disposed ion--gitudinally extending cutter box 262 which mounts the Suitably afiixedto each end of cutter box 262 is a generally L-shapcd moun? ing bracket266 having an upright post 268 mounting al pair of vertically spacedrollers 270 which ride in com-' members 258 and guiding the verticalmovement of the cutter box with the rollers 270 properly oriented formovement along members 258 (FIGS. 5 and 6). The cutter box 262 isprovided with end plates 350 and 352 and hingedly mounted on end plate352 by means of hinge 354 is cutter box door 356. The hingeo'ly mounteddoor extends the major portion of the length of the cutter box and afixed section 356 defines a continuation of the door, being alignedtherewith, and extends along the remaining length of the cutter box. Thedoor section 356' is secured to the cutter box by fasteners 358, therebeing spacers 369 positioned on the fasteners and interposed between thedoor section and cutter box. A narrow gap or parting space 362 isdefined between confronting edges 364 and 366 of the door 356 and sectin356, respectively. The door is pivotally movable in a narrow are betweenthe closed position shown in solid lines in FIG. 5 and the open position356" shown in broken lines in said figure. The door is opened tofacilitate the threading of the fabric through the cutter box. The dooris releasably latched in the closed position by the interengageablelatch members 363 and 370 mounted on section 356 and door 356,respectively. The latch member 363 is pivotally mounted in a bifurcatedbracket 372 by pivot pin 374, the bracket being suitably secured tosection 356', as, for instance, by a fastener 358. The latch member 368is of plate-like construction having a latch part 376 at one end and avertically disposed handle part 378 at the opposite end. The latchmember 370 is of plate-like construction with an angularly disposedlatch part 389 engaged with companion latch part 376, the latch memberbeing secured to the door by fasteners 382. Thus the latching andunlatching of the door is under the control of handle part 378.Projecting from the cutter box are a pair of guide rods 384, 384 whichextend through companion apertures 336 provided in the region of thefree end of the door, the rod 384 having a spring 388 thereon disposedbetween the cutter box and door and which is compressed on the closingof the door. The opening movement of the door is limited by the nut 39Gthreaded on the outer end of rod 384. Depending from the door 356 is alength of chain 392 which gauges the height of the cutting box withrespect to the superposed layers of cloth on the table.

With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, a narrow vertically disposedlongitudinally extending cloth channel or slot 324- is defined betweenthe confronting Walls 396 and 398 of the cutter box and door,respectively, said channel being in vertical alignment With the forwardedge of the feed roll 73 (see FIG. 1). A converging entrance to thechannel is provided by the inclined wall portions 469 and 402 of thecutter box and door, respectively. The door is provided with alongitudinally extending U-shaped part 4il4 defining a slot 456 toreceive the circular cutting disc 493 of the assembly 264. The cutterbox and door are of light metallic material extruded or otherwiseextended to the shape shown in FIG. 11, the cutter box beinglongitudinally rigidified to resist distortion and the tendency ofdownward flexing as the cutter assembly 264 travels therealong. Thecutter box suspends the cutter assembly for travel therealong and it hasbeen found that this arrangement obviates the downward flexing problcmand problems attendant thereto notwithstanding the light weightconstruction of the cutter box. The cutter box is generally of invertedU-shaped construction having opposite side walls 342, 396 and 4th) and aconnecting base wall 34a) which defines the top wall of the cutter box.The opposite side Walls have aligned inturned portions 414 and 414', theportion 414 defining a track 415 at one side of the box, with theopposite track 417 being defined on the longitudinal rib 41.6 formedextending inwardly of wall 396. The rib 43.6 is disposed substantiallymidway of wall 396 and is grooved to define track 417, the rib servingalso to rigidity the cutter box longitudinally against downward flexingforces. Thus the cutter box is of rigidified open box sectionconstruction and suspends the cutter assembly 264 for travel therealongin the manner to be described hereinafter.

The cutter assembly comprises a cutter block 418 mounting rollers 424),4.22 and 424 (FIGS. 8, ll and 12) on companion stub shafts 426, theroller 42%} riding on track 415, and the rollers 422 and 424 beingdisposed in horizontal alignment for riding engagement on track 417. Theblock 418 is provided with a pair of upstanding pins 423 having springs430 engaged thereon, there being provided a roller assembly 432 engagedon said pins. The roller assembly 432 comprises a vertical plate 434having horizontally disposed apertured mounting flanges 436 which areengaged on pins 423 to compress the springs 43%). Mounted on shaft 438at the center of plate 434 are a pair of rollers 44%), 440 which aredisposed on opposite sides of said plate. The rollers 440, 446' are thusbiased into engagement with wall 349 by springs 436, the roller assembly432 thereby biasing the rollers 420, 422 and 424 onto their companiontracks of the cutter box.

Mounted in bearings 442 and 442 is the cutting disc shaft 444 which inturn fixedly mounts gear 446 and mounting plate 448, the latterdepending below the cutter box. The mounting plate 448 is circular andmounts rotary cutting disc 4% by means of screws 45%, the cutting discextending across cloth channel 394 into slot 4436 of the door. Therotary disc 408 is peripherally sharpened as indicated at 452. Thecutter block 418 is formed in two parts 413 and 418" which separate atparting line 454, said block parts being retained in assembled relationby screws 456. As best shown in FIGS. 10, ll and 12, the block parts413' and 418 are dished out as indicated at 458 and 458, respectively,to receive the mechanism now to be described. Secured to block part 413'is a series of three upstanding pins 469, 462 and 464, the pins 464) and464 having rotatably mounted thereon similar sprockets 466 and 466',respectively. The pin 462 rotatably mounts unitary assembly 468consisting of a sprocket 470 similar to sprockets 466, 466, and a gear472 in mesh with gear 446, the latter being of substantially smallerdiameter than gear 472. The similar sprockets 466, 470, and 466 aredisposed at a common level in aligned space relation.

The cutter assembly is reciprocated in the cutter box by chain 474 whichhas its opposite ends anchored to block part 418 at anchor points 476and 478 (FIG. 8), said ends having fittings 48d threadedly engaged insaid block part at said anchor points. The lower run 474 of the chain istrained (FIG. 10) under sprocket 466, over sprocket 479, and undersprocket 466, the chain also being trained around the sprockets 482 and484 at the opposite ends of the cutter box. The sprocket 482 is motordriven as will be described in detail hereinafter; on the rotation ofsaid sprocket the cutter assembly will be reciprocated with the chain,being in effect a link therein. On cutter assembly movement, the chainwill rotate sprockets 466, 479 and 466 to thereby drive the cutting discthrough gears 472 and 446, the latter gears providing a speedmultiplication to thereby provide high speed cutting disc rotation oncutter assembly reciprocation. Thus the chain reciprocating the cutterassembly in the cutter box drives the cutting disc through speedmultiplication gears 4'72 and 446. The gear and disc 403 rotate in thesame direction of rotation as sprockets 466 and 466, the assembly 468rotating in an opposite direction.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 17, the sprocket 482 is keyed to the lowerend of shaft 486 as indicated at 488, the upper end of said shaft havinga worm wheel 49% keyed thereto as indicated at 4-92. The worm Wheel 49%is in mesh with worm 494 which is driven by motor 496 through coupling4%. The worm and worm wheel are enclosed in gear box Still secured towall 340 of the cutter box by fasteners 502. The plate 352 is providedwith an extension bracket 352' which serves as a mount for motor 496which is suitably secured thereto. It will be apparent that the motorand its transmission drive to chain 474 are all carried by the cutterbox and move therewith as a unitary assembly.

The sprocket 484 is carried in a forked fitting (FIG. 16) carried byshaft 596 which extends through a companion aperture 5&8 provided in endplate 359, the shaft being threaded and having a nut 519 engagedthereon. The tension of chain 474 may be adjusted by means of nut 510.The sprocket 484 is rotatab-ly mounted on pin 512 carried by fitting 5%,said pin depending in longitudinal guide slot 514 of plate 516 whichprojects laterally from end plate 356. Thus sprocket 484 is positivelyguided by the coaction between pin 512 and companion slot 514. Bumpers518 and 526 formed of a suitable resilient material such as rubber, orthe like, are suitably secured in position adjacent end plates 350 and352, respectively, for coaction with bumper parts 522 and 524-,respectively, of cutter block 418 at the opposite ends of the path ofmovement thereof. The end plates 350 and 352 are secured in position atthe ends of the cutter box by screws 526 which are received in companionfittings 5-28 projecting from the end plates.

Selective means are provided for buffering or dressing the cutting edgeof the cloth cutting disc during the operation thereof. With referenceto FIGS. 9, 10, 12 to 14, and 16, a buffering block 530 is rotatablymounted on stub shaft 432 secured to the cutter block at 53 Dependingfrom the cutter block is an integrally formed stop part 53-6 which isdisposed for coaction with the adjustable screw stop 538 threadedlyengaged in portion 549 of block 539. The block 530 is biased intoengagement with stop part 536 by spring 542 one end of which is fixed toportion 540 at 544 with the opposite end being fixed to stop part 536 at546. The adjustment of screw stop 53% adjust the position of thebuffering assembly 540 with respect to cutting disc 408. Thus thebuffering assembly may be adjusted towards or away from the cutting discto obtain the requisite amount of overlap of the buffering assembly withrespect to the peripheral edge of the cutting disc.

The buffering assembly 548 comprises a U-shaped bracket 55% having ashaft 552 extending between the arms 554 thereof, there being a spacedpair of buffering wheels 556 rotatably mounted on said shaft. The rightpart 558 of bracket 550 has a laterally projecting shaft 36% which isrotatably mounted in the part 562 of block 530. Thus the bufieringassembly is rotatable about the axis disposed at right angles to thepivotal axis of block 536. The buffering assembly is biased in acounterclockwise direction about shaft 560 (FIG. 12) by means of spring564 one end of which is fixed to bracket 556 at 566 with the oppositeend secured to post 558 of block 530. The space between wheels 556defines a slot 570 for the extension therein of the sharpened peripheraledge of the cutting disc.

In the normal non butfering position of the buffering assembly,buffering wheels 556 are disposed parallel to the cutting disc and outof contact there-with (FIGS. 12, 13 and 16). The buffering assembly isselectively pivotal-ly movable to displace the same angularly and bringwheels 556 into buffering contact with the cutting disc (FIG. 14).Secured to shaft 560 by means of screw 572 is a latch lever 574 having acam surface 576 terminating in a hook-shaped portion 573. Companion tolatch lever 574 is a lever 589 pivotally mounted upon block 530 at 582.The lower end of lever 580 is provided with a pin 584 to facilitate themanual movement of said lever. in the normal non-buffering position, pin586 of lever 58% is engaged or latched by portion 578 of lever 574 asshown in solid lines in FIG. 12, lever 5% being pivotally movable in aclockwise direction, viewing said figure, to the broken line position589' against stop pin 58% to release lever 574 and the buiferingassembly for movement to the angularly disposed buffering position. Inthe bufiering position pin 586 of lever will act as a stop to limit thecounterclockwise rotation of lever 574. Thus the buffering assembly ismovable between buffering and non-buttering positions under the controlof lever 58%, it being understood that pin 586 rides up cam surface 5'76to engage with portion 578 and latch lever 574 in the normalnon-buffering position. To effect sharpening or buffering of the cuttingdisc during the operation thereof it is merely necessary to move pin584- and with it lever 580 to stop 53%, the buffering operationsimultaneously buffering both opposite surface portions and 590 of theperipheral sharpened edge portion 452 (FlG. l4).

Secured to block 418 by screws 592 is a switch plate 594 (FIGS. 5, 8 and11) which actuates micro-switches 5% and "9S suitably secured in cornerportions at the opposite ends of the cutter box. Each switch is providedwith a depending actuator 619i) disposed in the path of movement ofswitch plate 594. It will be noted that the latter is spaced from block418 so as to clear roller 42% disposed therebelow.

In FiG. 19 there is shown the wiring diagram of the cutter assemblymotor 496 and control circuit therefor. The operation is such as toprovide a cutting stroke in either direction of cutter assembly travel.In the home or non-cutting position of the cutter assembly 264,diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 19, switch 5% is open and switch 5%is closed and said assembly is disposed at the inner end of the cutterbox in which position plate 594 maintains switch 596 open. The controlcircuit includes power supply 602, main switch 604, and reversing switch696, all circuit interconnected as shown on the diagram of PEG. 19. Theswitch 606 is of conventional construction and is externally operated bya two-position toggle control, the two positions being forward andreverse with a built-in neutral provision that prevents manual operationof the switch from one position to the other without first traversingthe neutral provision, the latter providing the requisite time-delay inreversing the direction of rotation of the motor. A single stroke oftravel of assembly 264 along the length of the cutter box provides forthe cutting of the fabric exposed to the action of cutting disc 408 andsaid stroke may be in either direction of travel of assembly 264. In theassembly position shown in PEG. 19, a cutting stroke is effected byactuating switch 6&6 to reverse position, with the circuit beingcompleted through switch 598 which is closed. At the end of this cuttingstroke switch 598 will be automatically opened by the coaction betweenswitch plate 594 and actuator 690 of switch 5% to break the circuit tothe motor and stop the assembly thereat with switch 59-3 open. The nextcutting stroke is effected by actuating switch 606 to the forwardposition in which case the circuit is completed through switch 596 whichis now closed, the assembly being returned to the FIG. 19 position andautomatically stopped thereat. The switches 5% and 598 are thus of thenormally closed type, being opened by an associated end of switch plate594. As

' aforenoted, the operator cannot actuate switch 6% to reverse thedirection of travel of the assembly without traversing the neutralposition which provides a timedelay factor.

In operation, with frame in the open fabric threading position as shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, the fabric is draped over roll 58 and is brought intoproper side edge adjustment. Thereafter the fabric is removed from roll58 and is draped over the feed or drive roll 73 and frame St is moved tothe operating position and latched thereat to achieve the desired fabricwrap-around with respect to feed roll 73. During the threading operationroll 78 is disengaged from its drive shaft 182 by means of knob 222which is in the out position for such disengagement. The fabric is ledfrom the feed roll through the cutter box as aforedescribed. At the endof a lay the fabric may be cut by manipulating switch 606 to eifect acutting stroke of cutter assembly 264. The cutter box may be elevated,as desired or required, by manipulating control wheel 302. It will beunderstood that during operation, knob 222 will be in the in or engagedposition so that the feed roll will be positively driven on movement ofthe machine along the table.

With frame 50 in the open threading position, the feed roll isconstructed for easy draping of the fabric thereover, and by theexpediency of swinging said frame to the latched closed or operatingposition, roll 58 is automatically disposed to achieve the desiredfabric wraparound with respect to the feed roll.

iany other changes could be effected in the particular constructions,and in the methods of use and construction, and in specific detailsthereof, hereinbefore set forth, without substantially departing fromthe invention intended to be defined herein, the specific descriptionbeing merely of embodiments capable of illustrating certain principlesof the invention.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In a spreading machine, cloth cutting apparatus including alongitudinally extending cutter box and a cutter assembly mountedtherein for reciprocation therealong, track means defined in said cutterbox for guiding the movement of said cutter assembly, the latterincluding a rotary cutter disc suspended below said cutter box andprojecting laterally therebeyond, said cutter box being longitudinallyrigidified to resist bending stresses applied thereto on thereciprocation of said cutter assembly, and being cross-sectionallyclosed except for an open bottom through which said cutter discprojects.

2. In a spreading machine, cloth cutting apparatus including alongitudinally extending cutter box and companion cutter assembly, trackmeans defined in said cutter box for suspending said cutter assemblytherein for reciprocation therealong, said cutter box beingcross-sectionally closed except for an open bottom section and saidtrack means extending longitudinally of said cutter box andlongitudinally rigidifying the same against downward bending stressesapplied thereto on the reciprocation of said cutter assembly, the latterhaving a cutter disc suspended below said cutter box and laterallytherebeyond through said open bottom section.

In a spreading machine, cloth cutting apparatus including alongitudinally extending cutter box and a companion cutter assembly,said cutter box being of generally inverted U-shaped cross-sectionhaving opposite side Walls and a connecting top wall, said sidewallshaving longitudinally extending tracks projecting inwardly thereof forsuspending said cutter assembly in said cutter box for reciprocationtherealong, said cutter box being crosssectionally closed except for anopen bottom section and longitudinally rigidified with the aid of saidtracks, said cutter assembly having a rotary cutting disc suspendedbelow said cutter box and laterally therebyond through said open bottomsection.

4. In a spreading machine, cloth cutting apparatus including alongitudinally extending cutter box and a companion cutter assembly,said cutter box being of generally inverted U-shaped cross-sectionhaving opposite side walls and a connecting top wall, said sidewallshaving longitudinally extending tracks projecting inwardly thereof forsuspending said cutter assembly in said cutter box for reciprocationtherealong, said cutter box being crosssectionally closed except for anopen bottom section and longitudinally rigidified with the aid of saidtracks, said cutter assembly having a rotary cutting disc suspendedbelow said cutter box and laterally therebeyond through said open bottomsection, and means for reciprocating said cutter assembly in said cutterbox comprising an endless chain having spaced runs with said cutterassembly being linked into one of said runs with the other run being indriving engagement with said cutter disc whereby to drive the latter onthe reciprocation of said cutter assembly.

5. In a spreading machine, cloth cutting apparatus including alongitudinally extending cutter box and a cutter assembly mountedtherein for reciprocation therealong, said cutter assembly including arotary cutter disc projecting laterally beyond said cutter box, andmeans for reciprocating said cutter assembly in said cutter boxcomprising an endless chain having spaced runs with said cutter assemblybeing linked into one of said runs with the other run being in drivingengagement with said cutter disc through the intermediation of speedmultiplication means whereby to drive said cutter disc at high speed onthe reciprocation of said cutter assembly in said cutter box.

6. In a spreading machine, cloth cutting apparatus including alongitudinally extending cutter box and a cutter assembly mountedtherein for reciprocation therealong, said cutter assembly including arotary cutter disc projecting laterally beyond said cutter box, andmeans for reciprocating said cutter assembly in said cutter boxcomprising an endless chain having spaced runs with said cutter assemblybeing linked into one of said runs with the other run being in drivingengagement with said cutter disc through the intermediation of speedmultiplication means whereby to drive said cutter disc at high speed onthe reciprocation of said cutter assembly in said cutter box, a shaftmounting said cutter disc, and another shaft mounting means in drivingengagement with said other run of the chain, said speed multiplicationmeans comprising gearing operatively connected between said shafts.

7. In a spreading machine, cloth cutting apparatus including alongitudinally extending cutter box and a cutter assembly mountedtherein for reciprocation therealong, track means defined in said cutterbox for guiding the movement of said cutter assembly, the latterincluding a rotary cutter disc suspended below said cutter box andprojecting laterally therebeyond, and means for reciprocating saidcutter assembly in said cutter box comprising an endless chain havingspaced runs with said cutter assembly being linked into one of said runswith the other run being in driving engagement with said cutter discthrough the intermediation of speed multiplilcation means whereby todrive said cutter disc at high speed on the reciprocation of said cutterassembly in said cutter box.

3. In a spreading machine, cloth cutting apparatus including alongitudinally extending cutter box and a cutter assembly mountedtherein for reciprocation therealong, track means defined in said cutterbox for guiding the movement of said cutter assembly, the latterincluding a rotary cutter disc suspended below said cutter box andprojecting laterally therebeyond. and means for reciprocating saidcutter assembly in said cutter box comprising an endless chain havingspaced runs with said cutter assembly being linked into one of said runswith the other run being in driving engagement with said cutter disc, ashaft mounting said cutter disc, and another shaft mounting a sprocketin driving engagement with said other run, and speed multiplicationgearing operatively connected between said shafts whereby to drive saidcutter disc at high speed on the reciprocation of said cutter assemblyin said box.

9. In a spreading machine, cloth cutting apparatus including alongitudinally extending cutter box and a cutter assembly mountedtherein for reciprocation therealong, track means defined in said cutterbox for guiding the movement of said cutter assembly, the latterincluding a rotary cutter disc suspended below said cutter box andprojecting laterally therebeyond, means for reciprocating said cutterassembly in said cutter box comprising an endless chain having spacedruns with said cutter assembly being linked into one of said runs withthe other run being in driving engagement with said cutter disc, andmeans carried by said cutter assembly selectively en gageable with saidcutter disc for buffering the same on the reciprocation of said cutterassembly.

10. In a spreading machine, cloth cutting apparatus including alongitudinally extending cutter box and a cutter assembly mountedtherein for reciprocation therealong,

said cutter assembly including a rotary cutter disc projecting laterallybeyond said cutter box, and means for reciprocating said cutter assemblyin said cutter box comprising an endless chain having spaced runs withsaid cutter assembly being linked into one of said runs with the otherrun being in driving engagement with said cutter disc through theinter-mediation of speed multiplication means whereby to drive saidcutter disc at high speed on the reciprocation of said cutter assemblyin said cutter box, a motor for driving said chain, and a controlcircuit therefor including a reversing switch, and normally closed limitswitches disposed at the opposite terminal ends of said cutter box,switch plate means carried by said cutter assembly disposed to actuate acorresponding limit switch at the terminus of each reciprocating strokeof the cutter assembly to open said control circuit to the motor, theactuation of said reversing switch being eifective to energize saidcontrol circuit to the motor through the opposite closed limit switch toreciprocate said cutter assembly to the opposite terminus.

11. In a spreading machine, cloth cutting apparatus including alongitudinally extending cutter box and a cutter assembly mountedtherein for reciprocation therealong, said cutter assembly including arotary cutter disc projecting laterally beyond said cutter box, andmeans for reciprocating said cutter assembly in said cutter boxcomprising an endless chain, a motor for driving said chain, and acontrol circuit therefor including a reversing switch, and normallyclosed limit switches disposed at the opposite terminal ends of saidcutter box, switch plate means carried by said cutter assembly disposedto actuate a corresponding limit switch at the terminus of eachreciprocating stroke of the cutter assembly to open said control circuitto the motor, the actuation of said reversing switch being effective toenergize said control circuit to the motor through the opposite closedlimit switch to reciprocate said cutter assembly to the oppositeterminus.

12. In a cloth spreading machine for spreading cloth on a surface, clothcutting apparatus for cutting the cloth and including a cutter boxextending substantially the width of the machine, the box beingpositioned above the surface, the cutter box providing an elongatedhousing substantially completely enclosed with the exception of anopening in one wall, the opening extend ng substantially the entirelength of the housing, flanges forming a pair of tracks disposed onopposite sides of the opening and paralleling the opening, and a carriermovable along the tracks within the box and supporting a cutterassembly, the cutter assembly including a rotary cutting disc below thecarrier and positioned outside the box.

13. In a cloth spreading machine for spreading cloth on a surface, clothcutting apparatus for cutting the cloth and including a cutter boxextending substantially the width of the machine, the box beingpositioned above the surface, the cutter box providing an elongatedhousing substantially completely enclosed with the exception of anopening in one wall, the opening extending substantially the entirelength of the housing, flanges forming a pair of tracks disposed onopposite sides of the opening and paralleling the opening, and a carriermovable along and having a three point support on the tracks, thecarrier supporting a cutter assembly, the cutter assembly including arotary cutting disc below the carrier and positioned outside the box.

14. In a cloth spreading machine for spreading cloth on a surface, clothcutting apparatus for cutting the cloth and including a cutter boxextending substantially the width of the machine, the box beingpositioned above the surface, the cutter box providing an elongatedhousing substantially completely enclosed 'by a top wall and side wallsand having an open bottom, the open bottom extending substantially theentire length of the housing, flanges forming a pair of tracks disposedon and extending inwardly from opposed side walls at opposite sides ofthe open bottom and paralleling the open bottom, and a carrier movablealong the tracks within the box and supporting a cutter assembly, thecutter assembly including a rotary cutting disc below the carrier andpositioned outside the box.

15. In a cloth spreading machine for spreading cloth on a surface, clothcutting apparatus for cutting the cloth and including a cutter box ofchannel form extending substantially the width of the machine, the boxbeing positioned above the surface, the channel being positioned toprovide an elongated housing substantially completely enclosed with theexception of a bottom opening extending substantially the entire lengthof the housing, flanges forming a pair of tracks disposed on andextending inwardly from opposed side walls of the channel andparalleling the opening, and a carrier movable along the tracks withinthe box and supporting a cutter assembly, the cutter assembly havingmeans extending outside the box and supporting a rotary cutting discpositioned outside the box.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,048,875 12/1912Radcr 83488 1,328,039 1/1920 Essner 83488 1,730,560 10/1929 Castricum83488 X 1,812,406 6/1931 Jenkins 3488 X 2,297,468 9/1942 Graupncr 83l742,695,667 11/1954 Carroll 83614 X 2,708,969 5/1955 Kopelowicz 83-1742,727,571 12/1955 Sayles 83-488 X 2,777,521 1/1957 Tanis 83488 X2,846,005 8/1958 Wilson 83488 X 2,921,492 1/1960 Worth 83-488 X WILLIAMW. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Examiner.

1. IN A SPREADING MACHINE, CLOTH CUTTING APPARATUS INCLUDING ALONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CUTTER BOX AND A CUTTER ASSEMBLY MOUNTEDTHEREIN FOR RECIPROCATION THEREALONG, TRACK MEANS DEFINED IN SAID CUTTERBOX FOR GUIDING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID CUTTER ASSEMBLY, THE LATTERINCLUDING A ROTARY CUTTER DISC SUSPENDED BELOW SAID CUTTER BOX ANDPROJECTING LATERALLY THEREBEYOND, SAID CUTTER BOX BEING LONGITUDINALLYRIGIDIFIED TO RESIST BENDING STRESSES APPLIED THERETO ON THERECIPROCATION OF SAID CUTTER ASSEMBLY, AND BEING CROSS-SECTIONALLYCLOSED EXCEPT FOR AN OPEN BOTTOM THROUGH WHICH CUTTTER DISC PROJECTS.